In 18 years of coaching at Woodham High School, Benny Washington instilled lasting principles in his players that would ripple throughout the community and affect kids for years to come.

Saturday, his son Ben Washington and the Titan Alumni Association will host the 1st Annual Woodham Alumni Basketball Tournament at Woodham Middle. The son said the event will cater to the kids while passing on a similar message that he received while growing up in the area.

"In the (local) news, I would see things about murders all the time and a lot of them would involve children or adolescents," Ben said. "I thought, we really need to do something to put a positive outlook in front of these kids.

"We want to let these kids know that there are people who grew up in the same neighborhoods as them and became doctors, educators, military officials and more. There's more to life if you just take the right opportunities."

Tournament games will feature four randomly-selected teams featuring alumni from '88 to '07.

The event will also feature a free skills development camp that will take place prior to the tournament for kids ages 6-17.

"My dad and plenty of other people poured into us while we were growing up," said the younger Washington.

"They invested countless hours of free time that got me to the point where I am today. It's time for us to give back and pass the torch on."

Ben, who graduated from Woodham High in 2003 and helped lead the Titans to a 4A state championship, recalled fond memories of high school.

"While I was there, I remember kids who graduated in the 1990's would come back and just embrace my dad because they realized how much of a father figure he was," said Ben.